Liquid dispensing container

ABSTRACT

A liquid dispensing container is provided with a dispensing spout on one side and a corresponding recess on the other side so that adjacent containers can nest. The container is designed so that it can be opened by pulling apart two tabs, so that the body of the container is not held during the opening operation. In one modification, the container is made from a paper blank which is a generally rectangular sheet having generally parallel opposed free side edges. The container is provided with score lines so as to enable the blank to be folded to form a container with a peak top.

United States Patent [19] Hopkins 1 LIQUID DISPENSING CONTAINER [76]Inventor: Arthur W. Hopkins, Stonebridge Road, Cornwall, N.Y.

[22] Filed: May 18, 1971 [21] App]. No; 144,555

[52] US. Cl. 229/17, 206/65 K [51] Int. Cl B65d 5/72 [58] Field ofSearch 229/17 R, 17 G; 206/65 K [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 2,147,117 2/1939 Bensel 229/17 G UX 1,453,963 5/1923 Wilberding229/35 2,054,302 9/1936 Scoles 229/17 R 3,051,368 8/1962 Schneider eta1. 229/17 R 3,269,644 8/1966 Bump 229/17 R 3,308,996 3/1967 Beck..229/17 G X 3,421,680 1/1969 Cohee 229/17 R m 3,743,165 July 3,1973

3,458,111 7/1969 Leasure et a1. 229/17 R Primary Examiner-Davis T.Moorhead Attorney-Sheldon H. Parker 5 7] ABSTRACT A liquid dispensingcontainer is provided with a dispensing spout on one side and acorresponding recess on the other side so that adjacent containers cannest. The container is designed so that it can be opened by pullingapart two tabs, so that the body of the container is not held during theopening operation.

In one modification, the container is made from a paper blank which is agenerally rectangular sheet having generally parallel opposed free sideedges.

The container is provided with score lines so as to enable the blank tobe folded to form a container with a peak top.

12 Claims, .15 Drawing Figures Patnted July 3,1973 3,743,165

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 3, 1973 3,743,165

5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Pa tented July 3, 1973 3,743,165

5 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG]! FIG.1IA

Patented July 3, 1973 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 LIQUID DISPENSING CONTAINERBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This inventionrelates to containers and more particularly to a container made from afolded paper blank and which is provided with a dispensing spout.

2. Description of the Prior Art The field of dispensing containers hasbeen rapidly growing and many inovations can be found in the patent art.Nevertheless, in the area of small containers which are designed to holdone serving of a liquid, certain desirable features are still not foundin commercial containers.

For example, the single service container is frequently employed inplanes and trains and should be easy to open with one hand and should beeasy to open without any danger of liquid being splattered on the user.One modification which is a low cost structure and employs a closure tabover a punched hole, tends to squirt liquid when opened, because thebody of the container must be held during the opening operation. Theplastic cup type in which metal foil is used to cover the opening doesnot lend itself to compact stacking.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION It has now been found that acontainer, particularly of the single service type, designed to be easyto open without exerting pressure on the body of the container and to betightly stacked, can be made from a paper blank. Moreover, thecontainers are designed to encourage the user to hold only flaps whileopening the containers so that pressure is not exerted on the containerwalls.

In accordance with the present invention, a paper blank is provided witha first pair of parallel score lines and a second pair of parallel scorelines at right angles to the first pair of parallel score lines, forminga rectangular center section, four corner outer sections and fourintermediate outer sections. Four score lines extend from the fourcorners of the blank and four score lines extend from the four cornersof the center section to the periphery of the blank. The latter fourscore lines being in pairs and meeting at the periphery of the blank.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The objects of the invention will beevident and the invention will be more fully understood when thespecification is read in combination with the following drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container of the present invention,shown open;

FIG. 2 is a plain view of a blank used in making the container of FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a pair of containers of FIG. 1,shown nested;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 1, shown in asemi-assembled condition;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a blank for another modification of acontainer;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a container made from the blank of FIG.5;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a blank for a still further modification of acontainer;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a container made from the blank of themodification of FIG. 7;

FIG. 8A is a perspective view of a modification of the container of FIG.8;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a blank for still another modification of acontainer;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a container made from the blank of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 10;

FIG. 11A is a perspective view of a modification of the container ofFIG. 8;

FIG. 12 is a plan view of still a further modification of a containerand;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the container made from the blank ofFIG. 12.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As shown in FIG. 2, a paper blank 10 isdivided into a plurality of sections by score lines. The pair ofparallel score lines 11 and 14 intersect at right angles with the pairof parallel score lines 13 and 15.

The two pair of score lines l2, l4 and 13, 15 divide the blank into arectangular center 12, four corner outer sections, COS 1, COS 2, COS 3,and COS 4, as well as four intermediate outer sections 108 1, I08 2, I083, and I08 4.

Each of the comer outer sections, COS l, COS 2, COS 3, and COS 4 has ascore line l6, 18, 20 and 22 respectively which extends from the fourcorners of the center section 12 to the four comers of the paper blank10.

If desired two tabs T1 and T2 can be provided to facilitate opening of.the container.

Two opposing intermediate outer sections 108 l and 108 3 have pairs ofscore lines 24, 26 and 28, 30 respectively. Each pair extends from thefour corners of the center section to a point 29 proximate the peripheryof the respective intermediate outer sections.

The intermediate outer section I08 3 has a cut-out section for a reasonwhich will be apparent when discussed in connection with FIG. 3.

The section which includes the corner outer sections COS 1, COS 4, andthe intermediate outer section 2 is folded as shown in FIG. 4, byfolding inwardly at the score lines 16 and 22. The section whichincludes COS 2, I08 4 and COS 3 is-similarly inwardly folded.

The intermediate outer section I08 1 is inwardly folded while theopposite intermediate outer section 108 3 is outwardly folded to form aspout section.

As shown in FIG. 3, the containers nest, with the spout of one containerfitting in the conversely folded section of an adjacent container. Thecut-out portion of the spout side I08 3 is essential in order to providea nestable structure. The clearance provided by the cut-out enables theupper edge 32 of the spout to fit under the sealed section 34 of theadjacent container.

As shown in FIG. 1, the preferred embodiment described above can beopened by applying pressure at the point 36 and 38 in the directionshown by the arrows 37 and 39. This causes the container to open bybreaking the seal at points 41 and 42, which points are caused toseparate as shown by the arrow 40.

The foregoing structure is admirably suited to stacking and is extremelystrong because of the multiple folds which form each of the gablesections 44 and 46.

As shown in FIG. 5, a conventional container can be modified to provideseveral of the features of the modification of FIGS. 1 through 4. Thebottom section of the container is formed in any desired manner as iswell known in the art.

The container blank 50 is provided with four parallel score lines 52,S4, 56 and 58 and two parallel score lines 60 and 62 which intersect atright angles with the four parallel score lines, to form five uppersections, US 1, US 2, US 3, US 4 and US 5, five intermediate sections IS1, IS 2, IS 3, IS 4 and IS 5 as well as five bottom sections B 1, B 2, B3, B 4 and B 5.

The sections US 5, IS 5 and BS 5 serve only an overlap section which isadhered to the corresponding sections US 1, IS 1 and B 1.

The zone 61 is the region in which the upper end of the container ofFIG. 6 is sealed.

As an alternative the intermediate sections IS 1, IS 2, IS 3, IS 4, andIS 5 can be eliminated so that the container will take on an appearancewhich corresponds to that which is seen in FIGS. 1 and 3.

In the modification of FIGS. 1 through 4, the peripheral edge of theblank is sealed after the blank is formed into a container. It should benoted that the tabs T l and T 2 are merely accessories of conveniencewhich assist in opening of the container, but for purposes ofexplanation the fold lines 21 and 23 are considered as peripheral edgesof the blank.

It should also be noted that in the drawings, short dashed score linesare employed to signify inward folds while long dashed lines areemployed to signify outward folds.

The blank 70 of FIG. 7 forms a conelike structure 80. Opposing tabsections such as 81 and 86 or 83 and 87 are pulled apart to open thecontainer. One of the tabs can then be used as a spout for dispensingthe contents of the container.

. The circular blank 70 has an octagonal center section 71 which isbounded by eight triangular sections 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, '77, 78 and 79.Three score lines extend from the apex of each of the triangles, to theperiphery of the blank. The radial score lines, as for example 728 and798 which extend from triangles 72 and 79 respectively form edges of thecontainer as shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 8A shows another configuration which is possible using the blank 70of FIG. 7. The score lines 825, 838, 848, 858, 868, 875, 888 and 898 arefolded inward instead of outward, as shown in FIG. 7, and alternatepairs of sections; 89-89A and 88-88A; 87-87A and 86-86A; SS-SSA and84-84A; and 83-83A and 82-82A are brought together along their outercorner regions. Opposing pairs of flaps can thus be pulled in oppositedirections in order to open the container.

The blank 90, of FIG. 9 produces a pyramid type of configuration asshown in FIG. 11. The blank has a square center section 91 and fivescore lines extend from each corner of the square to a point on theperiphery of the blank 90.

The length of the score lines 928 and 968 are seen to be dimensionedsuch that the peripherial edges 95F and 92F lie on the score line 95A.

FIG. 1 1A shows an alternate fold modification of the blank of FIG. 9.In a manner similar to the FIG. 8A modification, pairs of flaps arebrought together so that fold lines 928 and 968, 938 and 978, 945 and98S, and 95S and 995 respectively are brought together.

The modification of FIG. 13 is formed from a blank 120. As in the caseof the blank 90, five score lines extend from each corner 122, 123, 124and 125 of the square center section 121. The blank 120 of FIG. l2

resembles the blank 90, of FIG. 9, but the blanks are not folded in thesame manner and thus yield different types of containers.

The container 130 is opened by pulling on tabs 122T and 124T or 125T and123T.

I claim:

1. A container blank comprising a generally rectangular sheet havinggenerally parallel opposed free side edges,

a first pair of parallel score lines,

a second pair of parallel score lines, said first pair of parallel scorelines being perpendicular to said second pair of parallel score linesand dividing said sheet into a plurality of sections, and including,

a rectangular center section, four corner outer sections, and fourintermediate outer sections,

each of said corner outer sections having a score line which extendsfrom a corner of the center section to a corner of the sheet,

each of two opposite intermediate outer sections having two score lineswhich extend from the corners which border on said center section, andmeet at a meeting point proximate the outer edge of the respectiveintermediate outer section and proximate the midway point of said outeredge,

the outer edge of one said intermediate outer sections being in twoequal sections, each of said equal sections extending inwardly from acorner of an adjacent corner outer section to an edge point proximatesaid meeting point of said two score lines of said intermediate outersection.

2. The container blank of claim 1, wherein at least one of said twoopposite intermediate outer sections has a score line which extends fromsaid edge point to said meeting point of said two score lines.

3. The container blank of claim 1, wherein each of two corner sectionshave tab sections extending from one of its outer edges, said two cornersections bounding one of said two opposite intermediate outer sections,said one of its outer edges being the edge which is adjacent said one ofsaid two opposite intermediate outer sections.

4. A container blank comprising a generally rectangular sheet havinggenerally parallel opposed side edges,

at least three score lines parallel to two opposed side edges,

at least one score line perpendicular to said at least three scorelines, and dividing said sheet into a plurality of sections, andincluding,

at least four upper sections, said at least four upper sections beingbounded by one side edge and said at least one score line,

each one of two non-adjacent upper sections of said at least four uppersections having a score line which extends from each corner formed bythe intersection of said at least three score lines and said at leastone score line, to a meeting point proximate the mid-point of the sideedge of the respective one of two non-adjacent upper sections,

the side edge of one of said one of two non-adjacent upper sectionsbeing in two equal sections, each of said equal sections extendinginwardly from a corner of an adjacent upper section to an edge pointproximate said meeting point of the score lines which extend from twocorners of said one of two non-adjacent upper sections.

5. The container blank of claim 4, wherein at least one of said twonon-adjacent upper sections score line which extend from the mid-pointof said side edge to said meeting point.

6. The container blank of claim 4, wherein each of the other twonon-adjacent upper sections have tab sections extending from its sideedge.

7. A nestable liquid dispensing container having a dispensing spout anda peaked upper end, comprising two opposing rectangular side walls, saidside walls slanting inwardly and upwardly from a base region to an upperregion at which said side walls come together to form two triangularregions,

one of said triangular regions being closed by an inwardly folded wallmember,

the other of said triangular regions being closed by on outwardly foldedwall member, the upper edge of said outwardly folded wall sectionsloping downwardly and outwardly, the distance from the side wall edgewhich adjoins said outwardly folded wall section to the outer-most pointof said outwardly folded section being less than the distance from theside wall edge which adjoins said inwardly folded wall section to thecorresponding point on the inwardly folded wall,

whereby said inwardly folded wall provides a recess for the nesting ofan outwardly folded section of another identical liquid dispensingcontainer.

8. The container of claim 7, wherein said outwardly folded wall hasthree substantially triangular sections forming a pyramid shapedispensing spout.

9. The container of claim 8, wherein the apex of the triangular regionformed by the juncture of said two side walls is substantially abovesaid outermost point of said outwardly folded section.

10. A container blank comprising a polygonal sheet having a plurality ofscore lines dividing said sheet into a plurality of sections, andincluding a rectangular center section,

four groups of four generally triangular sections each triangularsection of each group having an apex coincident with one corner of saidrectangular center section,

four generally triangular sections, each having one side coincident withone side of said rectangular center section.

11. A container blank comprising a substantially circular sheet having,

a first pair of parallel score lines,

a second pair of parallel score lines, said first pair of parallel scorelines being perpendicular to said second pair of parallel score lines,

a third pair of parallel score lines, said third pair of parallel scorelines forming a substantially 45 angle with said first pair of parallelscore lines,

a fourth pair of parallel score lines, said fourth pair of parallelscore lines being perpendicular to said third pair of parallel scorelines,

the four pairs of parallel score lines, in combination forming anoctagonal center section, and eight triangular sections each having oneside coincident with one side of said octagonal center section, and

a score line extending from an apex of each of said eight triangularsections, said apex being opposite the side of the respective triangularsection which is coincident with said octagonal center section.

12. A container blank comprising a polygonal sheet having a plurality ofopposed free side edges a first pair of generally parallel score lines,

a second pair of generally parallel score lines, perpendicular to saidfirst pair of parallel score lines and forming a rectangular centersection,

each corner of said rectangular center section being coincident with avertex of at least three substantially triangular sections formed byscore lines,

each one of at least two opposite sides of said rectangular centersection being coincident with one side of a triangular section formed bytwo score lines each of which extends from a comer of said rectangularcenter section and which meet at a point proximate a side edge of saidsheet.

1. A container blank comprising a generally rectangular sheet havinggenerally parallel opposed free side edges, a first pair of parallelscore lines, a second pair of parallel score lines, said first pair ofparallel score lines being perpendicular to said second pair of parallelscore lines and dividing said sheet into a plurality of sections, andincluding, a rectangular center section, four corner outer sections, andfour intermediate outer sections, each of said corner outer sectionshaving a score line which extends from a corner of the center section toa corner of the sheet, each of two opposite intermediate outer sectionshaving two score lines which extend from the corners which border onsaid center section, and meet at a meetIng point proximate the outeredge of the respective intermediate outer section and proximate themidway point of said outer edge, the outer edge of one said intermediateouter sections being in two equal sections, each of said equal sectionsextending inwardly from a corner of an adjacent corner outer section toan edge point proximate said meeting point of said two score lines ofsaid intermediate outer section.
 2. The container blank of claim 1,wherein at least one of said two opposite intermediate outer sectionshas a score line which extends from said edge point to said meetingpoint of said two score lines.
 3. The container blank of claim 1,wherein each of two corner sections have tab sections extending from oneof its outer edges, said two corner sections bounding one of said twoopposite intermediate outer sections, said one of its outer edges beingthe edge which is adjacent said one of said two opposite intermediateouter sections.
 4. A container blank comprising a generally rectangularsheet having generally parallel opposed side edges, at least three scorelines parallel to two opposed side edges, at least one score lineperpendicular to said at least three score lines, and dividing saidsheet into a plurality of sections, and including, at least four uppersections, said at least four upper sections being bounded by one sideedge and said at least one score line, each one of two non-adjacentupper sections of said at least four upper sections having a score linewhich extends from each corner formed by the intersection of said atleast three score lines and said at least one score line, to a meetingpoint proximate the mid-point of the side edge of the respective one oftwo non-adjacent upper sections, the side edge of one of said one of twonon-adjacent upper sections being in two equal sections, each of saidequal sections extending inwardly from a corner of an adjacent uppersection to an edge point proximate said meeting point of the score lineswhich extend from two corners of said one of two non-adjacent uppersections.
 5. The container blank of claim 4, wherein at least one ofsaid two non-adjacent upper sections score line which extends from themid-point of said side edge to said meeting point.
 6. The containerblank of claim 4, wherein each of the other two non-adjacent uppersections have tab sections extending from its side edge.
 7. A nestableliquid dispensing container having a dispensing spout and a peaked upperend, comprising two opposing rectangular side walls, said side wallsslanting inwardly and upwardly from a base region to an upper region atwhich said side walls come together to form two triangular regions, oneof said triangular regions being closed by an inwardly folded wallmember, the other of said triangular regions being closed by onoutwardly folded wall member, the upper edge of said outwardly foldedwall section sloping downwardly and outwardly, the distance from theside wall edge which adjoins said outwardly folded wall section to theouter-most point of said outwardly folded section being less than thedistance from the side wall edge which adjoins said inwardly folded wallsection to the corresponding point on the inwardly folded wall, wherebysaid inwardly folded wall provides a recess for the nesting of anoutwardly folded section of another identical liquid dispensingcontainer.
 8. The container of claim 7, wherein said outwardly foldedwall has three substantially triangular sections forming a pyramid shapedispensing spout.
 9. The container of claim 8, wherein the apex of thetriangular region formed by the juncture of said two side walls issubstantially above said outermost point of said outwardly foldedsection.
 10. A container blank comprising a polygonal sheet having aplurality of score lines dividing said sheet into a plurality ofsections, and including a rectangular center section, four groups offour gEnerally triangular sections each triangular section of each grouphaving an apex coincident with one corner of said rectangular centersection, four generally triangular sections, each having one sidecoincident with one side of said rectangular center section.
 11. Acontainer blank comprising a substantially circular sheet having, afirst pair of parallel score lines, a second pair of parallel scorelines, said first pair of parallel score lines being perpendicular tosaid second pair of parallel score lines, a third pair of parallel scorelines, said third pair of parallel score lines forming a substantially45* angle with said first pair of parallel score lines, a fourth pair ofparallel score lines, said fourth pair of parallel score lines beingperpendicular to said third pair of parallel score lines, the four pairsof parallel score lines, in combination forming an octagonal centersection, and eight triangular sections each having one side coincidentwith one side of said octagonal center section, and a score lineextending from an apex of each of said eight triangular sections, saidapex being opposite the side of the respective triangular section whichis coincident with said octagonal center section.
 12. A container blankcomprising a polygonal sheet having a plurality of opposed free sideedges, a first pair of generally parallel score lines, a second pair ofgenerally parallel score lines, perpendicular to said first pair ofparallel score lines and forming a rectangular center section, eachcorner of said rectangular center section being coincident with a vertexof at least three substantially triangular sections formed by scorelines, each one of at least two opposite sides of said rectangularcenter section being coincident with one side of a triangular sectionformed by two score lines each of which extends from a corner of saidrectangular center section and which meet at a point proximate a sideedge of said sheet.